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73-year-old Cedartown woman charged with vehicular homicide in I-75 wreck

The Georgia State Patrol says she stopped her car in the middle of the interstate, forcing a tractor-trailer to swerve to get around her.

A 56-year-old Emerson woman was killed and a man critically injured in a wreck Sunday night on I-75 in Bartow County after another woman was stopped in the middle of the interstate. 

According to a Georgia State Patrol report, a 73-year-old woman driving a 2013 Chevrolet Impala stopped in the middle of the right lane of the highway. 

When a tractor-trailer swerved in an attempt to avoid the Impala, it struck it on the side, sending it careening into a 2000 Honda Accord parked in the emergency lane.

The Honda was forced through the guardrail and into the middle of the roadway. The tractor-trailer came to rest on top of the Honda.

According to the GSP report, the passenger of the Honda, 56-year-old Bobbie Whitman, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Honda's driver, 49-year-old Robert Whitman was injured and transported to Kennestone Hospital in Marietta in critical condition. 

Eight-year-old Devonte Walker was also a passenger in the Honda and was not hurt.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, 32-year-old Brian Walker of Jonesboro, was also not injured.

According to the GSP report, the driver of the Impala, 73-year-old Evelyn Nowell of Cedartown was injured and transported to Cartersville Medical Center for treatment. 

She has been charged in connection with the crash, with driving under the influence, first-degree homicide by vehicle and improper slowing or stopping on roadway.

The GSP's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is continuing their investigation.

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